BDA Press Centre
Dietitian Sian Porter helps you plan tasty treats to keep you warm on Friday 5 November.
Bonfire Night is fun for everyone old and young and part of that is the food and drink. The fresh air can boost your appetite but don't overdo it. If you know you are going to a party, eat less during the day and maybe walk to and from the party if it's local. Here are a few tips to enjoy the favourites with a healthy twist.
Snacks
Dips - use low fat natural yogurt instead of cream or mayonnaise and make some salsa too - try tomato or mango. The web is full of great recipes. Chop up veg like carrots, celery, peppers and cucumber for dipping.
Corn on the cob - the frozen mini ones are sweet and good value and perfect for eating with your hands.
Wedges - use an unsaturated oil spray and bake on a non-stick tray in the oven. Look for bought ones with the skin on and cooked in sunflower oil.
Mains
Jacket potatoes - eat the skin - this is where most of the fibre is and the flesh just under the skin contains most of the vitamin C. Wrap in foil and use the bonfire to cook but take care. Baked beans or very low fat cream cheese mixed with cayenne pepper or chives makes a tasty topping. Go easy on the butter/sour cream/mayo/cheese.
Chunky vegetable soup - scratching your head how to use up that pumpkin flesh from Halloween? Make it into a delicious soup but steer clear of recipes with cream. Cut croutons from wholemeal bread in star and rocket shapes.
Hot dogs - look on labels to choose sausages with a lower salt and fat content. Grill or barbeque but make sure you cook them thoroughly but on the other hand don't burn them. Serve with a wholegrain or high fibre white roll and add some chunky salsa.
Chilli - use lean mince and don't forget the all important red kidney beans to boost your iron and 5 a day. Serve with wholegrain brown rice for a tasty change. Add some mixed veg like sweetcorn, peas and red peppers to the rice for a multicolour display.
Wraps - cook up some lean chicken or turkey without the skin, add chunky salsa, salad, roll up and cut across to look like wheels.
Sweets
Toasted marshmallows - these are low fat but full of sugar with about 25kcal each. Mix with fruit like pineapple and banana which toast well. Soak wooden skewers for a few hours beforehand to stop them lighting up.
Baked apples - core and stuff with dried fruit and a little honey.
Drinks
Hot chocolate - make with semi-skimmed, skimmed or 1% fat milk. If adding cream, use the lower fat 'squirty' type. Remember the hot chocolate powder has sugar added already and you can buy instant types with very few calories.
Apple juice - can be served warm spiced up with all spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves.
Mulled wine - add a mulled wine sachet and a litre carton of orange juice to a bottle of red wine for sweetness and to dilute the alcohol and heat gently for ten minutes. Serve decorated with orange slices.
If you do splurge on Friday night then take it easy over the rest of the weekend to balance out those treats. For more ideas look at our barbeque factsheet www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/BBQ.pdf